Court clears Hamilton pair of assault charges

TWO Hamilton people were yesterday acquitted of serious assault charges after the evidence of a key witness was ruled inadmissible in the Warrnambool County Court.

TWO Hamilton people were yesterday acquitted of serious assault charges after the evidence of a key witness was ruled inadmissible in the Warrnambool County Court.

Michael James Dimond, 21, of Chaucer Street, and Danielle Lynette Knight, 20, of Bree Road, had been charged with intentionally causing serious injury.

They were scheduled to appear on trial this week but that was delayed during lengthy legal argument.

Yesterday judge Gerard Mullaly ruled the evidence of the key witness inadmissible and prosecutor Daniel Porceddu then decided to not lead any evidence against Mr Dimond and Ms Knight, which resulted in their acquittal.

Police had alleged the pair were involved in the stabbing of Jacob Wilson in the early hours of November 24, 2012.

Police previously alleged an incident happened after several young people had been drinking and taking Valium at a home on Kent Street, Hamilton.

The magistrates court committal hearing was told that a number of people were at the home drinking “goon” wine. The alleged victim and his friend Jade Vermeend both admitted taking 30 Valium tablets, according to police.

A number of witnesses gave different versions about the lead-up to a disagreement involving Mr Wilson and other people in the house.

Mr Wilson said he did not remember going to the Kent Street home where police allege he was stabbed.

Dr Peter Tung said he examined Mr Wilson at 3.15am on November 24 at the Hamilton Base Hospital and found he had suffered two stab wounds.

He said one of the stab wounds penetrated the chest cavity and he estimated Mr Wilson had lost between one and two litres of blood.